In many divorces, parents have a good enough relationship to work out child custody issues amicably. But in many cases, highly charged emotions, legitimate concerns about the other parent’s fitness, or one parent’s lack of cooperation make this impossible. In those cases, the court might appoint an evaluator — usually a psychologist, psychiatrist or social worker — to assess both parents and their living situations in order to recommend a custody arrangement.

If you are going through a contentious divorce involving children, it’s likely you will be subjected to a custody evaluation. A good family law attorney can help you prepare in order to achieve the best possible outcome. In the meantime, here are some basic things you can expect and things you should do as well.

First, it is critical to make a positive impression on your evaluator. This means you should fully cooperate with the evaluator by being on time for appointments, dressing neatly in appropriate attire, and trying to avoid projecting hostility, resentment or anger about the evaluation or badmouthing the other parent. It also means your home should appear neat, clean and kid-friendly when the evaluator visits.

Additionally, it helps to be prepared for interviews and home visits. Think about what you might say when asked about your parenting philosophy, what your child needs, and how you might address those needs and any parenting challenges that might arise.

It’s also important to be honest with the evaluator. Social workers and mental health professionals are highly skilled at picking up on dishonesty. If they feel you are trying to deceive them, they will note that in their report to the court. This could be very, very damaging to your custody case.

Meanwhile, since custody decisions can often hinge on the level of a parent’s involvement in their child’s life, it’s important that the evaluator has a record of your own role. This means you should be documenting attendance at doctor’s appointments, parent-teacher conferences, school events and outside activities.

Finally, having on hand school records, medical records and any court documents related to the divorce will provide useful insight for the evaluator while helping reinforce that you are organized, on top of things and involved.

This is just a broad overview, of course. To be fully prepared, you should give your family law lawyer a call.